Global General

Egypt police clash with pro-Gaza activists

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-06 21:59

Egypt police clash with pro-Gaza activists

Lebanese Sunni Muslim children from the al-Jamaat al-Islamiya group protest against the construction of an underground barrier near the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, in front the Egyptian embassy in Beirut January 3, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

GAZA: Palestinian demonstrators on Wednesday clashed with Egyptian forces guarding the borders in southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, witnesses said.

The protesters hurled stones at Egyptian forces, while the Egyptian forces in return opened fire to disperse the protesters who gathered to protest an underground barrier Egypt is building on its borders with Gaza to curb smuggling into Gaza.

At least two people have been injured and evacuated by ambulances in the Palestinian side. It is unclear if they were hit by Egyptian fire or as a result of the stones their colleagues were throwing.

Youth were seen throwing rocks and empty glass bottles at the Egyptian border police who stationed at watchtowers and buildings a few tens of meters behind the demarcation.

The riot broke out immediately after the Gaza-ruling Islamic Hamas movement ended a demonstration calling on Egypt to allow international activists, stuck in northern Sinai with trucks carrying aid, into Gaza.

Hamas police has tried to prevent the demonstrators from attacking the Egyptian posts, firing shots in the air.